Cheap insurance or pissing money away?

[Minge]

I am about to put the car away for the winter and I only put 1500 miles on it this season. I have always changed oil with Mobil 1 and put a fresh napa platinum oil filter on before putting it away. I have typically put 3000 on per summer but this year it just did not happen. Is. This excessive and spending money I do not have to by changing out full synthetic Mobil 1 and a high quality oil filter with just 1500 miles on it?

[Dimitrim]

I like to change my oil and filter when the computer tells me too. One year maximun between changes. Has it been a year since last oil change? Then you are wasting your money.

[Stingr69]

I would not change it unless the Oil Life Monitor says to.

You have low miles on that oil and little chance for corrosion problems. Get the engine good and hot on a long drive first then put it away. Long drive gets any condensed moisture out of the oil so there is less chance to develop acids during storage.

JMO.

-Mark.

[songsj]

When I stored my '97 Z28 I changed the oil when I took it out in the spring not in the fall. It also had very few summer miles on it.

[myold88]

I did my 8th oil & filter change with mobil1 yesterday.
That's 8 changes in 5 years/35,000 miles.
Cheap insurance IMO for a car that sits and gets little use.
My computer said 75% remaining before yesterdays change.

[K1SSRSS]

I like to change mine every 3-5k miles.

But IMO if you have less than 3k miles on the oil change and something is in your oil that is going to cause corrosion while sitting over winter, you have far worse problems to worry about fixing.

Also, why not start the car up every week or two and just let it warm up and run, it keeps all the parts from sitting in one spot, circulates the fluid, coats everything in oil again and evaporates any moisture.

[myold88]

Originally Posted by K1SSRSS

I like to change mine every 3-5k miles.

But IMO if you have less than 3k miles on the oil change and something is in your oil that is going to cause corrosion while sitting over winter, you have far worse problems to worry about fixing.

Also, why not start the car up every week or two and just let it warm up and run, it keeps all the parts from sitting in one spot, circulates the fluid, coats everything in oil again and evaporates any moisture.

^^^^^ Not a good idea. Most mechanics will tell you to let it sit. My antique cars have always sat months in the winter.
Springtime, charge the battery, start it up, change the oil, and your all set.

[JakesRJT]

Originally Posted by myold88

^^^^^ Not a good idea. Most mechanics will tell you to let it sit. My antique cars have always sat months in the winter.
Springtime, charge the battery, start it up, change the oil, and your all set.

I'm not doubting what you're saying... just curious as to the logic behind this...

[myold88]

Originally Posted by JakesRJT

I'm not doubting what you're saying... just curious as to the logic behind this...

A mechanic I worked with at a Chevy dealer always said: "One of the worst things
you can do to an engine is start it up". Just think of it- Ice cold block, low initial
oil pressure, etc.

[Minge]

I have had summer toy cars for the better part of my adult life. Old american muscle to current days cars and my program consists of the following.

Change oil, top off the gas tank with non oxy premium fuel, pull my good set of tires and rims and put the stocks on and inflate to 5-6 pounds over so I do not get flat spots. Put a battery tender on the car, put dryer sheets in the trunk, engine compartment and cabin to keep mice out. Store in a heated space cover it and forget it. This has worked well for me.

I think I am just going to change the oil it is a 70.00 piece of mind thing. I appreciate everyone chiming in...love this forum you people rock.

[pickwithaustin]

Originally Posted by myold88

^^^^^ Not a good idea. Most mechanics will tell you to let it sit. My antique cars have always sat months in the winter.
Springtime, charge the battery, start it up, change the oil, and your all set.

Not great advice. First off, get yourself a battery tender... don't wait till it is dead and then charge it. Bad for the battery. It is never optimum to let a car sit for very, very long periods. Fire her up, drive her down the driveway, let it sit and idle... heck, run her around the block a few times if you can (in Texas, we don't have "weather worries").

I've had every muscle car over the years you can think of (well, almost), over 80 cars in my days. I'd caution against just letting the sucker sit if you have the ability to fire her up every few weeks instead.

As for changing oil "early," since an oil change is probably the number one most important long-life-creator for an engine, it's cheap insurance all the time.

[myold88]

^^^ Not great advice ?? I guess my master mechanic friend (for 30+ years) was wrong In your opinion...
Notice said "etc".. lots of other things you can/should do but I was only talking about just starting up a stored car.
Again, opinions vary.
Crazy how no matter what you say here, some yahoo will chime in and tell you your wrong.

[GONIF]

This is to simple , just start the car once week let warm up then when spring comes get the car up to operating temp and change the oil and filter .

[pickwithaustin]

Originally Posted by myold88

^^^ Not great advice ?? I guess my master mechanic friend (for 30+ years) was wrong In your opinion...
Notice said "etc".. lots of other things you can/should do but I was only talking about just starting up a stored car.
Again, opinions vary.
Crazy how no matter what you say here, some yahoo will chime in and tell you your wrong.

Yes, in my 30+ year opinion I feel that is not the best advice. My opiinion - the longer a car sits, the more chance of issues on it later. Seals dry out, etc. I'd much rather flow the system periodically in my beasts as I've done in my 30+ years building, collecting, and tinkering with cars.

Also, a battery tender is far better for the battery than letting it sit and then having to actually charge it later. I started using tender's years ago on my Harley's and started using them on the cars as well (have two on them right now). Maintains good overall battery health.